San Diego, CA – In today’s world, substance abuse remains a pressing concern, impacting individuals, families, and communities alike, specifically posing a threat to young adults. Among the array of substances causing alarm are opioids, particularly fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid. Opioids are a class of drugs often prescribed by doctors to treat severe pain. They function to relieve pain by binding to opioid receptors in order to block pain messages, and are highly addictive. Due to their dangerously addictive nature, opioids have emerged as an especially grave threat, with one in seven teenagers abusing these life-threatening substances, according to the National Library of Medicine.
To address the rise in opioid use among teens, two Torrey Pines high students Lauren Suh and Roma Panchal founded Project Clean Teen, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young individuals about the dangers of substance abuse, with a particular focus on the growing threat of fentanyl. They work together to create
well-researched (evidence-based?) presentations, incorporating leadership skills and role modeling to steer students to a healthy future as they ascend into middle and high school, where exposure to and experimenting with substances may be more prevalent.
Project Teen Clean started in San Diego in November of 2023, and quickly found locations across southern and northern California, including Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Project Clean Teen students foster an interest in maintaining a healthy, clean lifestyle and hope to instill these values into the next generation. They believe that education is the cornerstone of drug prevention, and that the best way to lower the alarming drug statistics is to start talking about issues related to substance use with younger students. Suh stated that “values [she has] learned from elementary school are core beliefs that [she] still practices today” and that she wished “her peers had been exposed to more drug awareness before it became too late.”
Project Clean Teen takes on a multifaceted approach to all aspects of substance abuse, from its various uses to its harmful effects on the mind and physical body, particularly with a focus on mental health. During their presentations, Project Teen Clean provides demonstrations on how to identify when someone has overdosed on an opioid and how to properly administer naloxone, the life saving antidote to combat the effects of opioids.
As a growing organization, Project Teen Clean hopes to work with even more teenagers around the country to create a truly collective effort against substance abuse. Project Clean Teen welcomes any high school or undergraduate student to join their fight to end the opioid crisis. In a time where addiction inhibits impressionable young adults and the communities around them, Project Clean Teen serves as a ray of hope and paves the way for a “cleaner future.”
Clean Teen Members: “If you are a high school member who is dedicated to serving our community by raising awareness on substance abuse, please visit our website or follow us on social media (ig: projectcleanteen) for more information!” For more information please contact projectcleanteen01@gmail.com or sign up through this link to become a regional director!
